|
News for You and Your Pet
|
November 1, 2013
|
|
|
Dear ,  I am passionate about feline nutrition. Nutrition is the foundation of good health, and while we can't influence all aspects of feline health, nutrition is one area where we have some control: we can control what we feed our cats, so why not make the best possible choice? In this issue:A recent study at the University of Georgia looked into whether cat food ingredients play a role in the increased prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism. The findings may surprise you. Flu and cold season is upon us, but this doesn't mean that you have to get sick. Use common sense precautions and boost your immune system so you can stay healthy all winter long.
Wishing you purrs and wags,
|
|
Hyperthyroidism and Pet Food: Exploring a Possible Connection
| |
By Ingrid King
Hyperthyroidism is a common disease that typically affects middle-aged and older cats. It is caused by an excess production of thyroid hormones, which are produced by the thyroid gland, located inside the cat's neck. Thyroid hormones affect nearly all organs, which is why thyroid disease can sometimes cause secondary problems such as hypertension, heart and kidney disease. There has been much speculation about what causes hyperthyrodism in cats. One of the culprits may be your cat's food.
University of Georgia study looks at whether cat food ingredients play a role in disease developmentResearchers at the University of Georgia are examining whether cat food ingredients play a role in disease development. In a study funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, researchers treated feline thyroid cell cultures with various cat food ingredients to determine whether these ingredients stimulate normal thyroid cells. From the foundation website:
Researchers learned that flavonoids-plant proteins found in commercially available cat food-activate cultured feline thyroid cells as effectively as a cat's normal thyroid-stimulating hormone. This suggests that flavonoids may interfere with normal thyroid function and be a contributing factor in the development of feline hyperthyroidism. Researchers have to confirm these results by repeating the necessary experiments. Final analysis and results are expected by summer 2013. If the researchers identify nutritional causes of hyperthyroidism, it is hoped that these compounds can be reduced or avoided in cat food, thus reducing the incidence of disease and improving the lives of cats. Editor's note: Soy is a common source of flavanoids, and is also a common ingredient in lesser quality pet foods. Soy protein is cheaper than meat protein, which is why manufacturers often use it to boost the protein content in pet foods. Unfortunately, cats lack the enzyme to properly metabolize plant-based proteins.
Is there a relationship between canned foods and an increase in feline hyperthyrodism?In a 2004 study at Purdue University, researchers investigated the medical records of 169,576 cats, including 3,570 cats with hyperthyroidism, evaluated at 9 veterinary school hospitals during a 20-year period. The study concluded that the increasing prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism is not solely the result of aging of the cat population, and that canned foods may play a role. A much smaller 2000 EPA study of 100 cats with hyperthyroidism and 163 control cats identified a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) which is used to coat the inside of cat food cans, as a possible culprit. Interestingly, cats in the study that preferred fish or liver and giblets flavors of canned cat food had an increased risk.
What role do PBDE's play?Another chemical that may play a role in the increase in hyperthyroidism may be polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are flame retardants used in building materials, furniture, carpeting, and textiles. Intestingly, PBDEs are also found in particularly high concentrations in fish that are high up the food chain, such as tuna and mackerel, two fish proteins widely used in fish flavored cat food.
What do these findings mean to you and your cat?Clearly, more research is needed to definitively identify a connection between feline hyperthyroidism and cat food, but the research that has been done so far is enough to convince me to err on the side of caution when it comes to choosing cat food. Avoid foods containing soy protein, make sure the brand you feed uses BPA-free cans, and limit fish flavored foods to an occasional treat.
Photo by Kevin N. Murphy, Flickr Creative Commons
|
|
Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season
| |
By Ingrid King
With flu season upon us, we're all looking for ways to stay healthy. The best protection against getting sick is a combination of using common sense precautions, and keeping your immune system strong.
Common Sense Precautions
Common sense precautions against the flu have not changed over the years. Frequent hand washing is still the best precautionary measure against the flu as well as colds. But don't waste your money on antimicrobial and antibacterial soaps - they don't work against viruses and provide no added value over soap and water. In fact, they may contribute to the spread of resistant bacteria. Don't touch your face unless you've just washed your hands - that's a direct route for viruses to get into your respiratory tract. Listen to what you mother taught you: cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing, and throw the used tissues away - don't leave them for someone else to deal with.
Boost your Immune System- Take a good multi-vitamin. Do your research and make sure the brand you take has good bio-availability. Most grocery store brands do not meet this requirement.
- Take extra vitamin C. I regularly take 1000mg a day, and I double or triple this when I've been exposed to someone who is sick.
- Sip warm fluids. Sipping hot tea can make your mouth unfriendly to microbes and reduces your risk of getting sick even after you've been exposed. Gargling with warm salt water can have the same effect.
- Use a Neti Pot (nasal saline rinse) regularly to flush your sinuses before microbes have a chance to get a hold in your system.
- Avoid inflammation promoters such as sugar, alcohol and tobacco.
- Optimize your vitamin D levels. Generally, the more optimal your vitamin D levels, the less your chances of getting the flu or a cold. Ideally, you should have your vitamin D levels tested, but if you live in the Northern hemisphere and don't want to pursue testing, experts feel that it's safe to take at least 1000-2000 IU's of vitamin D during the winter months.
- Support your intestinal flora with probiotics. It may seem odd that your intestinal tract's health has anything to do with flu and cold prevention, but most inflammation begins in the gut, which in turn, affects your immune system.
- Get enough sleep. This is one of the best ways to keep your immune system rested and healthy.
- Exercise regularly. Better yet, exercise outside.
- Listen to your body. We all get early warning signs when we're about to catch a cold or come down with the flu. For some, it may be a tickle in the throat, for others, a mild stomach ache, nausea, or simple that "just ain't right" feeling. Gargle with warm salt water, use your Neti pot, increase your vitamin C and D supplementation, and get some rest. Sometimes something as simple as slowing down can boost our immune system enough to ward off a cold or the flu in the early stages.
Should you get the flu vaccine?
The decision on whether to get vaccinated should be an individual decision and take your health history as well as your risk of exposure into consideration. While your physician should always be your ultimate source for health information, keep in mind that not all physicians take a holistic view when it comes to preventive health care. Do your homework, and educate yourself. For a thought provoking article on why flu vaccines may not be as effective as you may think, read Analysis Finds Flu Vaccine Efficacy Lacking, as Flu Vaccines are Suspended Across Europe and Canada by Dr. Joseph Mercola.
I hope these common sense precautions put your mind at ease and help protect you and your family members, both human and furry, from flu and cold viruses.
©Ingrid King 2013. All Rights Reserved.
|
Highlights from The Conscious Cat
| |
|
|
|
December 11, 2013
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
New York, NY
March 12-14, 2014
Global Pet Expo
Orlando, FL
May 8-10, 2014
BlogPaws Pet Blogging Conference
Las Vegas, NV
Please visit the Events Page on my website
for more information and directions.
|
|
Marketplace
|
 ________________________________________________________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
